Damsel fly for ID Please

[PeterD]

Seen lots around in the last week but this is the first I have managed to photograph. It does not appear in my Chinery book. Could someone please help?




Thanks

[Deer Stalker]

Hi Peter,

It's a Large Red Damselfly.

[Geoff F]

. . . and it's a female.

This species can be confusing; males have red on the thorax sides while females are yellow. The abdomen colours are also variable with 3 recognised variations.

I don't know which of the Chinnery books you are using but there is a rather similar specimen in the Collins Guide to British Insects.

[PeterD]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

. . . and it's a female.

This species can be confusing; males have red on the thorax sides while females are yellow. The abdomen colours are also variable with 3 recognised variations.

I don't know which of the Chinnery books you are using but there is a rather similar specimen in the Collins Guide to British Insects.

Thanks Geoff. One of the problems with general guides is they could never get anywhere near covering the range of species adequately and that is why I asking for help so much. Peoples replies help a lot as they assist me in learning to identify families and sometimes, if I am lucky, the species.

[Geoff F]

Yes I find the same problem with the 'cover all species' general guides. They are fine as a starting point if you have a common species but there are so many sub species and lookalikes that it soon gets confusing. Especially if your photo is from a different angle to the book illustration.

I am gradually building up my stock of ID books; although, so far, I have left some of the really difficult subjects alone. Like beetles for instance. But I do have the Aidgap Beetle ID Guide which usually gets me to family level.

With regard to Damselflies and Dragonflies; I have just purchased the revised British Dragonflies book by Smallshire and Swash (part of the Wild Books series). I think it is a good balance which lies somewhere between a basic ID leaflet and a really advanced (and expensive) specialist book which requires a microscope to follow the keys.

It should be available for a little under £20 with postage.

[PeterD]

Thanks for your comments Geoff. The problem is that it would become very expensive to get detailed information on an Order of insects - think how many books would be needed
The other difficulty, as you mention, is that microscopic investigation is needed to determine lots of subjects down to species level.

I used to collect insects (moths and butterflies) when I was in my early teens but now feel this unnecessary with the advent of good glass and digital cameras. My rule nowadays is to share a moment but try not to disturb the subject. I therefore would rather compromise and acccept a family name only, where a photograph does not allow species identification.